Hayes & Yeading 0-0 Basingstoke Town

Hayes & Yeading added another point to their survival bid with a goalless draw at home to Basingstoke Town last night.

United moved a point clear of Maidenhead, who remain confined to the relegation zone, and still boast a game in hand over their Berkshire rivals in the battle to beat the drop.

It has been a hectic week for Phil Babb’s side as the schedule takes its toll and the United manager decided to shuffle his pack at Kingfield.

Luke Williams and Rashid Yussuff dropped to the bench while there was no place for Kamaron English or Brandon Goodship in the squad.

In came teenage Millwall loanee Niall McManus, former Arsenal youngster Samir Bihmoutine, Freddie Ladapo and defender Ben Brown.

There were a few old H&Y faces lining up for Town as goalkeeper Louis Wells and forwards Louie Soares and Manny Williams made a return to their old stomping ground.

Bihmoutine and Ladapo were first to test Wells in Woking, however the ex-United stopper was more than up to the task and warmed his gloves early on.

Nicholas Bignall showed power and presence up top for Basingstoke and his hold-up play carved open the first chance for the visitors.

Bignall, back-to-goal, played in Nathan Smart in the right channel and his cross was met by Liam Enver-Marum and Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz was forced into action.

Bihmoutine threatened again for the hosts, but it was Town who went closest before the interval as only a superb stop for Jaimez-Ruiz kept out the away side.

Both sides resisted changes at the interval, with Hayes & Yeading getting back underway on the front foot as Ladapo spurned an opportunity.

Former United favourite Soares then caused chaos in the H&Y penalty area, with the excellent Jaimez-Ruiz doing well to snuff out the danger.

Bihmoutine, whose loan is set to expire after this weekend, picked up a knock midway through the second period and had to be replaced by Andrew Musunga.

The substitute could have won it on the stroke of full-time but his shot was well wide and summed up the quality of a game where neither side did enough to take maximum points.

HAYES & YEADING: Jaimez-Ruiz, Brown, Everitt, Mills (Williams), Gerring, Inman, McManus (Akubine), Harriott, Cox, Ladapo, Bihmoutine (Musunga).

Subs (not used): Yussuff, Crowley.